Money Matters

Guaranteed Bursary

To access support from this bursary fund, learners must be aged from 16 up to 19 and studying on a full time further education course timetabled for more than 12 hours per week and lasting a minimum of 10 weeks. The learner must show evidence that they are in the following category:
• Young people in Care
• Care Leavers
• Learner in receipt of Income Support 
• Learners in receipt of Employment Support Allowance who are also in receipt of a Disability Living Allowance
Subject to your satisfactory attendance at College, the full bursary of £1,200 will be paid in 18 equal installments on a fortnightly basis.

 

16-18 Discretionary Bursary

If you do not qualify for the Guaranteed Bursary then you may be eligible for a discretionary bursary to help you cover the cost of essential items for you course. This funding is available to the following groups of learners; however funding is limited and is not an entitlement.

 

If your household income is below £16,180 (which would have qualified you for free school meals in 2010/11), you may be eligible for up to:

• 100% of costs for Essential Equipment    
• 100% of costs for a course-linked CRB
• £3.00 per day meal allowance on the days when you are timetabled to attend college*
• 100% of costs for travel to college by public transport or college bus if you live over 3 miles away from your base campus

*This allowance will be made available using a loyalty card voucher for use in college canteens only.

 

If your household income is between £16,181 and £21,000, you may be eligible for up to:

• 75% of costs for Essential Equipment    
• 75% of costs for a course-linked CRB
• 75% of costs for travel to college by public transport or college bus if you live over 3 miles away from your base campus.  If you travel to college on a College bus, your invoice will be credited to show ‘in kind’ assistance for this part of your discretionary bursary allocation.

 

If your household income is between £21,001 and £30,000, you may be eligible for up to:

• 50% of costs for Essential Equipment    
• 50% of costs for a course-linked CRB
• 50% of costs for travel to college by public transport or college bus if you live over 3 miles away from your base campus.  If you travel to college on a College bus, your invoice will be credited to show ‘in kind’ assistance for this part of your discretionary bursary allocation.

 

Click here to download the form

 

Discretionary Learner Support Fund – Learners aged 19+

Learners are eligible to apply for DLSF for a maximum of 3 years.  No duplicate levels can be funded for learners and the course must be at least 10 hours per week for a minimum of 10 weeks.  Attendance will be checked before any award is granted. If attendance is below 80% future awards will not be paid.

 

If your household income is £20,000 or less, you may be eligible for up to:

• 75% Essential Equipment 
• 100% Course-linked CRB       
• 100% Exams   
• 75% Travel (at least 3 miles from campus)
• 80% Childcare - up to max of £160 per week per child-term time only

 

Click here to download the form

 

24+ Advanced Learning Loans

24+ Advanced Learning Loans are student loans similar to higher education loans, but for the further education sector. They are coming in from September 2013 for the academic year 2013/14.Loans will be available for learners aged 24 and over, studying at Level 3 or Level 4, including QCF Certificates and Diplomas, Access to HE, A-Levels and Advanced and Higher Apprenticeships. You can apply for a loan to meet the upfront costs of your qualification, which will be paid directly to the college on your behalf.

 

Who is eligible for a 24+ Advanced Learning Loan? Individuals who are: 

• Aged 24 or over at the start of their course
• Resident in the UK
• Have not previously had a Loan to do the same qualification type and level of qualification

 

Click here to view more information

 

Care to Learn

If you are under 20, Care to Learn could pay up to £160 per child per week towards your childcare and travel costs while you are learning.

 

You can usually claim Care to Learn funding if you are living and learning in England, and can answer “yes” to the following questions:

• Are you under 20 years old?
• Are you caring for your own child or children?
• Are you a British Citizen or member of the EEA and live in England?
• Is your childcare provision registered with Ofsted?

 

To download an application visit the following website https://learnersupport.direct.gov.uk/AFR/(S(ibgqpami2n1gip45bwfgod55))/ApplicationPack/C2L/201213 or call 0800 121 8989